Disc brakes on road bikes

[3narf]

Hi

There's been a lot of talk around this subject lately with the UCI allowing them for 2016 (? I think).

Anyway, the magazines always seem to gush about their function but slate their aesthetics, generally describing them as 'visually intrusive,' and looking like hybrid mountain bike systems.

It seems to me if they used standard 'round circumference' or solid edge discs instead of wavy or petal discs, they would be sufficiently different to MTB brakes.

Since when did every bike disc have to be wavy? OK, they're supposed to be more efficient at shedding water, but is this necessarily a good thing? Drillings were always there for that reason, and the petals just wear the pads out quicker. Also, a more progressive feel in the wet would replicate closer what the average road rider is accustomed to.

I have a disc road bike now and the brakes are superb. They do squeal like mad in the wet, though; I hope this settles down when the pads bed in...

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Roadies are inherently conservative.

And I bet there's a fair few on cc who bellowed "never" to discs four or five years ago whose Sunday pride-and-joy is now equipped, or will be when n+1 comes around.

 

[Neilsmith]

My mate in work who is a very keen club racer hates them. One of his concerns was what happens in a bunch crash. More sharp edges to cut people up. For me I wouldn't mind but I'm never in a bunch. They certainly change the look wether that's good or bad is a personal thing I guess

 

[3narf]

One of his concerns was what happens in a bunch crash. More sharp edges to cut people up.

That's a good point, I always ride alone so it never occurred to me...

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

My mate in work who is a very keen club racer hates them. One of his concerns was what happens in a bunch crash. More sharp edges to cut people up. For me I wouldn't mind but I'm never in a bunch. They certainly change the look wether that's good or bad is a personal thing I guess

What does happen in a disc brake bunch crash? There has been no real world experience of this so anything said on the subject is largely going to be a load of tosh

 

[MichaelW2]

The problem, as I see it, is that the industry are still wedded to the concept of trickle down technology. I don't know if disc brakes are better for pro racers or worse, if the are safer or more dangerous. I do know that for nonprofessional riders who use a road bike in all weathers, disc brakes are a good thing.
Access to disc-brake road bikes for us should not be dependent on whether pro riders like them for racing.

 

[Neilsmith]

What does happen in a disc brake bunch crash? There has been no real world experience of this so anything said on the subject is largely going to be a load of tosh

I know what you mean but some people's thoughts are that in crashes the chain ring causes a lot of injuries so hence they think the discs will do similar

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I know what you mean but some people's thoughts are that in crashes the chain ring causes a lot of injuries so hence they think the discs will do similar

Thoughts is the important word here. What people "think" will happen is not necessesarily the same as what will happen in a bunch crash at the bottom of Col Du Tourmalet

I'd much rather have a gash from a chainring than a week of little sleep due to blankets sticking to weeping sore, road rash. I happen to have had both and neither are pleasant - the type of brake used is irrelevant in both cases (ok both were rim brakes)

While maybe not the best example, it's a fair illustration


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JplymlruPZ8

 

[MichaelW2]

I think it is time to do some practical experiments regarding rotor safety in a crash. Bring on the chicken canon.

 

[3narf]

I think it is time to do some practical experiments regarding rotor safety in a crash. Bring on the chicken canon.

...but don't forget to thaw them.

http://www.sattlers.org/mickey/culture/humor/items/Non-geekish/airplaneWindshieldTests.html

 

[Vapin' Joe]

My mate in work who is a very keen club racer hates them. One of his concerns was what happens in a bunch crash. More sharp edges to cut people up. For me I wouldn't mind but I'm never in a bunch. They certainly change the look wether that's good or bad is a personal thing I guess

There are plenty of sharp edges on road bikes, brake levers, pedals, skewers, stems, chain rings to name a few. All far more likely to make contact with someone in a crash than fittings which are inside the forks and the stays - as are the thirty two lethal bits of wire holding each wheel together.

Bring out anything new for bikes and you can guarantee you'll be bombarded with reasons why they'll break/cause injury/are not needed/ etc etc. Then a few years down the line the very people decrying them will be the ones who wouldn't touch a bike without them.

Were you around when integrated shifters were introduced? It was as if somebody had suggested gang banging Bambi, the almighty outcry that came from the traditionalists.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I know what you mean but some people's thoughts are that in crashes the chain ring causes a lot of injuries so hence they think the discs will do similar

Because crashes never happen when you ain't in the big ring...

 

[Ian193]

Surely disc brakes in the peleton would be OK as long as everyone was using them they would stop quicker so not crash into the guy in front

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Surely disc brakes in the peleton would be OK as long as everyone was using them they would stop quicker so not crash into the guy in front

They don't stop any quicker as your braking is determined by the grip provided by the tyre and you can lock a wheel with calipers. What they have is much better modulation allowing you to apply far less force to the lever and getting closer to the edge of tyre adhesion without locking the wheel.

 

[Booyaa]

The problem, as I see it, is that the industry are still wedded to the concept of trickle down technology. I don't know if disc brakes are better for pro racers or worse, if the are safer or more dangerous. I do know that for nonprofessional riders who use a road bike in all weathers, disc brakes are a good thing.
Access to disc-brake road bikes for us should not be dependent on whether pro riders like them for racing.

It's not.